A Nigerian named Kingsley Utulu has received a prison sentence of five years and three months for his involvement in a major hacking and identity theft operation that cheated U.S. tax agencies and private citizens out of more than $2.5 million.

The sentencing was disclosed on Saturday by Jay Clayton, U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, along with Christopher Raia, Assistant Director in Charge at the FBI’s New York Field Office. This comes after Utulu admitted guilt to conspiracy to commit wire fraud and aggravated identity theft.

Clayton said, “Kingsley Uchelue Utulu took part in a scheme to hack into the U.S. tax preparation businesses, trade in the stolen personal identifying information, and defraud the IRS and other governmental bodies.

“Offshore scammers like Utulu and his co-conspirators may think they can target hard-working Americans with their hacking and fraud schemes and avoid prosecution.

“The message from the Department and the FBI is clear — they cannot. We are committed to protecting Americans from criminals operating offshore.”

Raia also responded to the sentencing, emphasizing the damage caused by Utulu’s crimes.

Raia said, “Kingsley Utulu, a Nigerian national, was part of a scheme that targeted and infiltrated electronic systems of U.S.-based companies to steal well over two million dollars through fraudulent tax returns.

“Along with his co-conspirators, this defendant’s scheme reached across the globe to exploit sensitive information for financial gain.

“The FBI will never exempt any individual who seeks to unlawfully profit through deceitful practices, regardless of where they are located.”

According to a report shared by DataBreaches.net and accessed by The Punch on Sunday, which referenced public court documents and statements, the scheme dates back to 2019.

“Utulu and other Nigeria-based conspirators took part in a scheme to hack into U.S.-based tax preparation businesses. The conspirators utilised spearphishing emails to obtain access to these businesses’ electronic systems.

“Once access was gained, they stole tax and personal identifying information of clients, hacking into multiple tax preparation firms in New York, Texas, and other states,” the report noted.

The stolen personal information was then used to submit fake tax filings to the IRS and different state tax bodies.

The report continued, “The conspirators sought at least $8.4 million in fraudulent refunds and successfully obtained around $2.5m.

“They also filed fraudulent claims with the Small Business Administration’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, securing an additional $819,000.”

Utulu, 38, was arrested in the United Kingdom and later sent to the United States to face charges.

Alongside his 63-month prison term, the court ordered him to repay $3,683,029.39 and surrender $290,250 in assets.

His sentencing adds to the increasing number of Nigerians being tried in the U.S. and Europe for financial crimes carried out using digital tools.

In January, two other Nigerians, Olutayo Ogunlaja and Abel Daramola, were found guilty of running a $560,000 global romance fraud and are now facing sentences of up to 20 years in a U.S. federal prison.

The Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dr. Dele Alake has officially launched a capacity enhancement programme for the first batch of Nigerian mining professionals at Murdoch University, Australia.

The initiative is a key outcome of the Nigeria–Australia collaboration with the support of the Commonwealth Government , aimed at addressing skill gaps in the mining sector and deepening bilateral ties between Nigeria and Australia.

It will be recalled that during the 2023 Africa Down Under (ADU) Conference in Perth, Australia, Dr. Alake entered into a bilateral agreement with the Government of Western Australia—through the Australian Ministry of Mines and Petroleum—and Murdoch University to facilitate technical training designed to strengthen the expertise of Nigerian mining professionals.

This collaboration, with strong support from the Australian High Commission in Nigeria, has now culminated in the commencement of a two-week pilot training programme involving eleven Nigerian participants at Murdoch University. The training covers a wide range of subjects, including extractive metallurgy, sustainable geochemistry, and mineral science research. Participants will also embark on field trips and engage directly with industry experts to explore mining trends, investment opportunities, and sustainability challenges.

In his remarks at the launch, Dr. Alake noted that the programme represents the realization of a vision conceived less than two years ago.

He said, “I must not fail to acknowledge the encouragement and support of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu , and the efforts of the Australian High Commissioner to Nigeria, H.E. Leilani Bin-Juda, who has been a pillar of support throughout this process—constantly engaging, traveling back and forth and ensuring this vision comes to life. I also express profound gratitude to the Vice-Chancellor and faculty of Murdoch University for opening their facilities to us so warmly. Establishing a working relationship with a leading mining nation like Australia is crucial to strengthening bilateral ties and fostering mutually beneficial development in our mining sectors”.

The Minister also charged the participants to be worthy ambassadors of Nigeria and to leverage the training to enhance the country’s technical capabilities and contribute to evidence-based policy design and implementation.

“Let this moment mark the beginning of a transformative journey—not just for those attending this course, but for the millions of Nigerians who stand to benefit from a better-governed, more inclusive, and more productive minerals sector,” he added.

Welcoming the Nigerian delegation, Vice-Chancellor of Murdoch University, Professor Andrew Deeks, highlighted the importance of capacity building in the global resources sector. He emphasized that the exchange programme aligns with the university’s mission to promote ethical, sustainable, and inclusive engagement across continents through impactful education and research.

According to him, “The support of the Commonwealth Government underscores the importance of our nations coming together to share knowledge for the mutual benefit of our societies.”

The Western Australian Minister for Mines and Petroleum, Hon. David Michael also welcomed the Nigerian delegation and expressed strong support for the collaborative approach to resource development. During the course, the Australian Department of Energy, Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety will host the participants as part of a structured capacity-building engagement.

Segun Tomori, FSCA

Special Assistant on Media to the Honourable Minister of Solid Minerals Development

8th June, 2024

A fire broke out at the Imaratus Sanan Hotel in Mecca, where more than 480 Nigerian pilgrims, partaking in the 2025 Hajj under private tour companies, were staying.

The hotel is situated in the Sharamansur district of Mecca, Saudi Arabia.

The blaze, which affected parts of the hotel on Saturday, resulted in major damage, though there were no injuries or fatalities.

The Nigerian pilgrims were away from the hotel at the time, as they had already left for Mina to observe the symbolic stoning ritual, which is an essential part of the Hajj pilgrimage.

In a statement from its spokesperson, Fatima Usara, the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) confirmed the incident and appreciated the quick actions of the Saudi fire service and the hotel personnel, which helped stop the fire from spreading and ensured the safety of all guests.

NAHCON Chairman Abdullahi Usman immediately went to the scene to inspect the extent of the fire’s impact.

Disturbed by the level of destruction, Mr Usman met with the affected pilgrims to console them and commended the rapid response from local authorities.

“Our priority is the safety and comfort of our pilgrims,” he said. “We have arranged immediate relocation to alternative accommodations and will provide every support within our capacity to minimise their distress.”

Mr Usman also praised the Saudi fire fighters and the hotel team for acting swiftly in managing the situation.

The National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON) wishes to inform the public about a fire incident that took place on Saturday, 7th June 2025, at around 12:00 noon (KSA time), at one of the hotels hosting Nigerian pilgrims on Shari Mansur Street in Makkah.

The hotel involved, Imaratus Sanan, was accommodating approximately 484 pilgrims from six different Nigerian private tour companies. Fortunately, there were no casualties, as all the pilgrims were in Mina at the time. Saudi emergency teams and the hotel staff acted swiftly, preventing the fire from engulfing the entire building.

Shortly after the incident, the Chairman/CEO of NAHCON, Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman, along with Commissioner for Policy Personnel Management and Finance, Alhaji Aliu Abdulrazak, and Deputy Makkah Coordinator, Director Alidu Shutti, visited the hotel to assess the damage and oversee arrangements for the pilgrims’ safety.

During the visit, Professor Abdullahi instructed that the affected pilgrims be relocated immediately to a new facility. He sympathised with those impacted and assured them that the Commission would do all it could to reduce the impact of the incident on them.

The Chairman expressed gratitude to Almighty Allah that no one was harmed, and said that NAHCON would work closely with the affected tour operators to arrange a smooth transition to new accommodations and offer the necessary assistance. He and his delegation had already reviewed the new location and finalized resettlement plans.

The Chairman and the Commissioner appreciated the Saudi emergency response team and the hotel staff for their coordinated efforts in containing the fire.